Snow Babies

The challenge over at Mix It Up! this week was to use aluminum foil and masking tape on a layout. Here's my take:They provided us with this sketch:
I had some metallic contractor's tape in my stash from, oh, about 7 years ago when metal accents were all the rage. Everything old is new again! I ran it through the Sizzix with the snowflake Cuttlebug embossing folder to make a cool accent strip. The great thing about using this metal tape (I don't really know what the real purpose of it is--maybe to tape together heating ducts? Anyone?). Anyway, the great thing about it is that it's already sticky backed. Simply peel off the liner and stick it down. I used this same tape to die cut the snowflakes (SU! Sparkle die). A touch more tape to emboss and punch a snowflake "o" in the title, and to punch two small snowflakes for the corners. For the masking tape, I cut strips in half to use as journaling lines, and stuck some to a scrap of CS and punched with SU!'s corner punch.
The title is also cut from masking tape. Here's how:

1. Type words using Word Art tool in Word.
2. Flip horizontal to create a mirror image and print.
3. Use a light box or window and place the masking tape on the back side over the top of your printed text (the text will be reading correctly from this side through the light).
4. Cut out your letters and tape them to your layout. Easy peasy!

Try your hand at some handmade metal embellishments using aluminum foil/metal tape. Run it through a die cutter, emboss it, or how about a few drops of alcohol ink. Fun, fun!

DP Kit Giveaway

Donna Downey is giving away one October kit from Dixie Pieces. Head on over and leave a comment for your chance to win this fab kit. Click here to enter to win.

A Monster and the Zoo

I picked up some of the My Little Monster papers from Daisy Bucket Designs at my LSS a few months back. I just fell in love with those monsters in their bright fun colors, and all those motherly words of wisdom yelling from the paper. Flash forward to Monday: me digging through more old pictures from my film days. Found these of my youngest's first experience with a cookie (I think he liked it, don't you?!). And light bulb!! These pics would be perfect with that cutie paper. Originally, I was thinking the title would be Cookie Monster, but that conjured up images of the big furry blue guy. So instead I cut some of the words from the paper, along with some cutie monsters. And another page is born!



This LO is for this month's Quick and Simple page challenge at Dixie Pieces. The challenge was to use 1-3 photos (I cheated a bit here), two rectangles of paper, letters for the title, and 3 small embellishments. Now that I think about it, I guess I didn't follow the directions very well. Anywho, this page was super quick and easy, aven with the doodled vine with handcut leaves. And those cardboard letters, easy peasy. Just free cut, no stencil, no sketching. The papers are from SEI's Dill Blossom.

Thanks for looking!

Sweet Cheeks

A quick page using a sketch from The Scrappiest. You gotta love sweet baby cheeks!

Washer Pendant How To

Thank you Pinterest for making this one of my most viewed posts!  If you like crafty tutorials, be sure to check out my other fun projects linked above.

Wow, where does a week go? I finally had a chance yesterday to make a few more washer pendants and snap some photos along the way. So roll up your sleeves, here goes.

You will need:
The washers I used were 1 3/4" and 1 3/8" zinc-plated.

Step One:
Clean the washer with a cotton ball and rubbing alcohol to remove any dirt and oils.

Step Two:
Place drops of alcohol ink randomly over the surface of the washer.

Step Three:
Use an applicator (Ranger makes one specifically for this, but I don't have it--yet, so I just used a basic cosmetic sponge I had in my stash) with a bit of Blending Solution and dab at the washer to lighten and mix the inks. Add more droplets as needed to create a design that you love. There is no right or wrong here, and what I loved most was how forgiving the inks and blending solution are. If it's too dark lighten with solution; too light, add more ink.

Step Four:
Wrap a piece of wire (mine was 24 gauge) around your washer. Start the wire in the back, and be sure to cover over the end as you wrap around. With each pass through the center, thread 1-3 beads onto the wire. Keep wrapping and threading until you like. Snip off the end and thread it beneath the wires in the back. On the smaller washer, I skipped the wire wrapping and glued on some tiny rhinestones. Forgot to snap a photo of it.
Step Five:
Add a hanger and you are done. I used a premade leather cording that already had the fasteners, but you could use ribbon, string, jute, yarn, chain, and add your own closure, or simply tie it large enough to slip over your head.

I couldn't believe how quickly these came together. You could lay out a bunch at once and work simultaneously on them. I think they would make great gifts, too! I turned one into a keychain by hanging a shorter piece of cording and attaching it to a split ring. Enjoy!

{Note: these images are the result of my own work, and are copyrighted by me under content of my blog.  If you would like to share this project on your site, please use only one photo and include a link back to this page.  Thank you!}